International Children’s Bible

Malachi 1:5-10 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

5. You will see these things with your own eyes. You will say, ‘The Lord is great, even outside the borders of Israel!’”

6. The Lord of heaven’s armies says, “A son honors his father. A servant honors his master. I am a father. So why don’t you honor me? I am a master. So why don’t you respect me? You priests do not respect me.“But you ask, ‘How have we shown you disrespect?’

7. “You have shown it by bringing unclean sacrifices to my altar.“But you ask, ‘What makes them unclean?’“They are unclean because you don’t show respect for my altar.

8. You bring blind animals as sacrifices, and that is wrong. You bring crippled and sick animals. That is wrong. Try giving them to your governor. Would he be pleased with you? He wouldn’t accept you,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.

9. “Now ask God to be kind to you. But he won’t accept you with such offerings,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.

10. “I wish one of you would close the Temple doors. Then you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you. I will not accept your gifts,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.